Just for Fun: George Washington's Overdue Library Books

Meredith Jessup | April 19, 2010 1:07 PM

Our country's first president has racked up quite a library fine.

Librarians in New York have reportedly discovered two missing books that were checked out by George Washington in 1789. From the

BBC:

The first president of the United States of America borrowed two books from the New York Society Library in 1789 but failed to return them.

Adjusted for inflation, he has since racked up $300,000 (?195,000) in fines for being some 220 years late.

The New York Society Library says it will not pursue the fine. It would simply like the books back.

The two books in question: "Law of Nations," a dissertation on international relations, and a volume of debate transcripts from Britain's House of Commons.

George Washington did not even bother to sign his name in the borrower’s ledger. An aide simply scrawled “president” next to the title to show who had taken them out.